Sean Smith’s base deal: Three years, $16.5 million
Posted by Mike Florio on March 17, 2013, 7:12 PM EDT
Titans Dolphins Football AP

The 2013 cornerback market is worse than previously believed.

The contract signed by Sean Smith with the Chiefs widely was reported as being worth $18 million over three years, for a modest average of $6 million per year. In reality, it’s even more modest than that.

Per a source with knowledge of the contract, it has a base value of only $16.5 million, which equates to an average of $5.5 million annually.

Escalators and incentives can push the number to $18 million.

Also, only $7.465 million is fully guaranteed. The 2014 base salary of $3.45 million is guaranteed for injury only, and it becomes fully guaranteed on February 7.

So, basically, the top of the cornerback market is $5.5 million per year.

I know Clay hates the signing, but I don't see how you can. When you have Javier Arenas as your present #2 and you have a chance to get a guy with Smith's talent for a damn reasonable deal that can easily be escaped after year 1 - what's the question?

Maybe they can't unlock it and maybe he'll still suck - oh well. We know that Javier Arenas isn't the answer and this kid could be. My hat is off to the Chiefs for trying.

Even solid QB play is enough for this team to be in playoff contention. We had some of the worst QB play of All-Time the last 2 years. 3-4 extra wins easily with even BELOW AVERAGE QB play last year instead of abysmal.

The clips of him getting constantly beat are just that, random clips from random games, not one of them alone or in bunches from random games, proves anything other than yes, all cornerbacks get burned.

He's a great physical tools prospect who hasn't yet topped out, atleast according to several NFL minds, don't try to explain away the interest he drew, several good teams had their eyes on him and theres no denying that... but as California Chief pointed out, Reid and company insisted on going to the front of the line for him (looove that line, that's exactly what they did for him and everyone else).

What you've found so far... is a young, physically imposing from a height/weight/speed view cb, who has probably not reached his full potential, and according to random fins fans, if we're counting that, is a mix of pure awesome mixed with fair share of whiffs... just what you expect from a younger player. I'm not so sure he's a pure natural, probably not, but the combination of intensive coaching that he will get here from an old pal, plus plain old ongoing maturation, should help him get his big, gangly size under control and start being consistent with it.

Personally, I'm excited with his potential and if nothing else he's a perfect complement to 5'9 Flowers... as much as I thought Arenas filled in pretty admirably last year, you just know having two guys that size outside is an instant disadvantage.

Smith did give up alot of yards we can't argue that. Teams targeted him like crazy, so that definately inflated the amount of numbers he gave up. He had a pretty good YPA alllowed as well as Completion percentage against. His crusade is a bit ridiculous as he's young, experienced, and extremely talented.